Imli is a staple in Indian cooking. With its sweet and sour flavour, it makes for a lip-smacking ingredient in an array of dishes. Right from chutneys to aachars to side dishes to the main course, tamarind is a quintessential spice that we just cannot do without. The dish has been spreading its charm for ages and this charm is not just because of its taste.
Apart from being an essential ingredient in Indian kitchens, tamarind or imli is also consumed for its medicinal qualities. Because of containing phytonutrients, it helps in promoting good health. Not only this, but tamarind is also packed with vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, iron, potassium, and so many nutrients. It also has a higher content of fibre and contains zero fat. You didn’t know this, did you? Let us know about the health benefits of tamarind.
Aids In Weight Loss
The thing that came as a shock to me is that tamarind can actually help in weight loss. Since tamarind is packed with high fibre content and zero fat, it could actually help in shedding some extra kilos. Some studies have claimed that tamarind contains hydroxy citric acid (HCA) which helps in losing weight. Besides, tamarind can actually keep you full for a longer time and curb unhealthy food intake.
Keeps Blood Sugar Level In Check
As per some health-related studies, tamarind seed extract contains anti-inflammatory properties which help in keeping blood sugar levels in check. It can also repair damaged pancreatic tissue and give beneficial results.
Promotes Good Heart Health
Tamarinds have flavonoids that can actually promote good heart health, as stated by some studies. The flavonoids present in tamarind can reduce bad cholesterol levels while increasing good cholesterol levels. Thus, it keeps blood pressure in control and even prevents heart diseases.
Promotes Better Digestion
Digestion imbalance is not good, but did you know that tamarind can actually help you with this? Because of its high potassium content along with the presence of tartaric acid and malic acid, it can help in promoting better digestion in the body.
Since we have talked about so many health benefits of tamarind, let us tell you a way in which you can have it in your diet. One best way to intake all nutrients is having tamarind juice. Let us give you a quick recipe of how you can make it at home.
Tamarind Juice
Ingredients
- 10 gm tamarind
- 2 glasses of water
- 3 to 4 tsp honey
- 1 tsp black salt
- Ice cubes
Method
- Take tamarinds and wash them. Remove all the seeds.
- Take a pan and add water. Let it boil.
- Add seedless tamarind into the water and let it boil on a high flame.
- After 5 to 6 minutes, turn off the flame and let it cool for some time.
- Filter the drink and pour it into a glass.
- Add honey and mix well.
- Add ice cubes to the glass and serve.